Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Koło Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Koło

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,416 in Koło.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,059 in Koło.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,702 in Koło.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 11% less than in Koło, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Koło is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Koło
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$10.99 zł 40.08
-57.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$41.89 zł 153
8.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$8.27 zł 30.16
1.93%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$3.58 zł 13.06
-18.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$1.96 zł 7.15
-64.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$1.63 zł 5.95
-77.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$3.18 zł 11.61
-24.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$3.68 zł 13.43
1.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Koło
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.03 zł 3.77
116.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$1.36 zł 4.95
34.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.43 zł 5.23
51.75%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$3.33 zł 12.16
-33.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$9.18 zł 33.49
115.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$6.46 zł 23.55
-43.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$10.81 zł 39.42
25.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.07 zł 3.91
206.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.74 zł 6.36
-7.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.72 zł 6.29
40.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$2.92 zł 10.65
-28.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$0.90 zł 3.30
70.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.14 zł 4.16
29.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$1.28 zł 4.68
-22.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.61 zł 2.22
-16.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$5.06 zł 18.44
-12.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$7.10 zł 25.89
172.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.14 zł 4.14
56.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$1.68 zł 6.12
61.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Koło
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$1.07 zł 3.90
28.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$33.02 zł 120
-65.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$2.12 zł 7.73
42.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$0.78 zł 2.84
26.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$10.96 zł 39.96
28.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.68 zł 6.14
-19.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$33.7K zł 123.0K
-16.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$30.0K zł 109.3K
9.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Koło
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$270 zł 985
-54.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$8.37 zł 30.52
62.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$16.56 zł 60.4
10.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Koło
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$36.64 zł 134
64.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$19.58 zł 71.4
-12.46%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$6.95 zł 25.34
25.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Koło
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$336 zł 1,226
106.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$8,184 zł 29.8K
91.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Koło
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$90.1 zł 329
-33.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$35.71 zł 130
-2.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$80.2 zł 292
42.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$93.6 zł 341
-11.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Koło
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$641 zł 2,337
-4.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$498 zł 1,817
-12.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$974 zł 3,552
115.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$811 zł 2,956
86.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$3,099 zł 11.3K
20.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$2,518 zł 9,183
3.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Koło
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.75
-21.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Koło: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $641 in Koło. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $42.00 in Koło for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $213 per month, with Koło cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Phuket vs Koło: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Koło?
Phuket and Koło differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $1,416 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Koło?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $2,124 in Koło to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Koło?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $641 in Koło. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Koło?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 190% less than in Koło. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Koło?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $336 in Koło. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,416 in Koło, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Koło. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Koło?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Koło safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Koło are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Koło?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Koło. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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